An endlessly vast grid permeated the dim universe, radiating faint light and flickering unsteadily. It was woven and overlapped in a chaotic tangle that couldn't be severed or untangled.
However, in such a place, a blazing sun suddenly intruded into Lu Yang's vision. Incandescent white light flowed across his robes, then broke down, transforming into an iridescence of various colors that scattered like mist. The iridescent light merged into the great karmic net below, reflecting the faces of billions of monks.
[Tathagata Vairocana of the Vajradhatu].
'No, it's the World Honored One!'
Lu Yang's teeth chattered slightly, and he immediately clamped his jaw shut: 'At the very least, the person appearing before me right at this moment is absolutely the true consciousness of the World Honored One.'
There was only one basis for this judgment—
'Di Muni... this is the World Honored One's true name. In my past life, when [Sky-shrouding] ultimately sought to attain the Netherworld, he used this exact name to draw the World Honored One's response!'
If this were merely an incarnation, how could it dare to use the World Honored One's true name?
He forcibly suppressed the urge to restart.
It wasn't that he was unwilling to restart; mainly, it was because he hadn't detected any erosion of his perfect Dao heart. It was still operating completely normally.
This was very subtle...
After all, the infectious nature of the World Honored One's pollution was obvious to all. The Star Palace had suffered terribly from it. Yet now, with the World Honored One standing right in front of him, he actually felt nothing?
Either he was already beyond saving.
Or the World Honored One truly hadn't made a move against him.
If it were the former, he would have been done for long ago, and [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] would inevitably have been discovered by the World Honored One. Since it hadn't... that meant it must be the latter.
At this moment, Lu Yang's thoughts raced, and countless ideas swarmed his mind, only to be entirely suppressed by him. Subsequently, he dropped heavily to his knees, like a golden mountain toppling or a jade pillar collapsing:
"This lower-tier cultivator, Master of Tribulations, is fortunate to meet—"
Boom!
Before Lu Yang could finish speaking, a thunderclap interrupted him. To his astonishment, he found that he actually couldn't utter the words "World Honored One."
He raised his head to see the man who called himself "Di Muni" smiling faintly. The man shook his head: "I am the [Tathagata Vairocana of the Vajradhatu], not the person Fellow Daoist is thinking of... At least, not right now. Because if I truly were that person, it would inevitably be discovered by the others."
Hearing this, Lu Yang instantly narrowed his eyes.
He was already one hundred percent certain that the person before him was the World Honored One, not the previous Tathagata incarnation. However, the World Honored One was indeed correct about one thing.
A Dao Lord was simply too powerful.
Residing high on Paramita, even casting a single glance downward could halt the operation of the mortal world. The resulting commotion would inevitably draw the perception of the other Dao Lords.
Yet the [Tathagata Vairocana of the Vajradhatu] before him didn't give off that feeling.
But the fact remained that he was using the World Honored One's true name. For entities like Dao Lords, a name held extraordinary significance. Thus, it was impossible for this not to be his true body.
Why was this happening?
Lu Yang had, after all, been tempered through a thousand trials in the Saint Sect. By now, he had already recovered from the initial terror of suddenly being cornered by the World Honored One and quickly arrived at the answer:
'The World Honored One... came down in disguise, sneaking down here?'
Hiding from the other Dao Lords? To see me?
The moment this thought arose, everything prior could be entirely explained—the World Honored One wasn't here to kill him; he truly just wanted to come over for a chat?
That being said, Lu Yang didn't dare to relax in the slightest. He kept his head bowed and remained silent, pondering inwardly: 'I understand now. No wonder there is no mighty power. By granting his true name, the World Honored One allowed his true consciousness to secretly borrow the golden body of the [Tathagata Vairocana of the Vajradhatu] to descend to the mortal realm.'
This was something only the World Honored One could do.
Firstly, it was likely because the World Honored One didn't stand high enough. His cultivation was the weakest among the four Dao Lords, making it easier for him to descend and manifest in the present world compared to the other three.
Secondly, it was because of [One Mind].
The [Tathagata Vairocana of the Vajradhatu] was an incarnation enlightened by him in the first place. Grafting karma by granting his true name and borrowing its body was entirely understandable.
—So here came the question.
What exactly did the World Honored One want to discuss with an ant like him, who wasn't even a Great Perfected Lord, that he would hide it from the other Dao Lords and sneak down to the mortal realm to find him?
Just then, a voice drifted down from above:
"Good, very good."
Lu Yang kept his head bowed, remaining silent. However, the next words from the [Tathagata Vairocana of the Vajradhatu] made him dizzy on the spot, almost causing him to faint:
"Fellow Daoist's ambition is not small."
"If I hadn't integrated all the causes and observed the variables from afar, I fear I would never have known of such a thing... the collapse of the Netherworld, the overturning of Paramita—truly a great tribulation."
'How is that possible...'
At this moment, only this single thought remained in Lu Yang's mind. Absolute disbelief and incredulity almost surfaced on his face.
The [Project: Collapse Paramita] has been exposed!?
Are you kidding me? Although he had been gathering the necessary conditions, up until now, he had only thought about it in his head and had never spoken of it to an outsider!
Even to the Primordial Heavenly Demon, he had only given a rough description.
He had kept the specific methods and means strictly confidential. Yet now, the World Honored One had directly spoken of them, as if he had grasped them all along!
Lu Yang almost ground his teeth to dust. When the other party's voice fell into his ears, it was spoken casually, yet it made his head buzz like a booming temple bell. However, the final shred of rationality allowed him to forcibly steady his mind. He kept his face stiff, tilted his head, and revealed an innocent expression.
"Hahaha!"
The World Honored One instantly burst into loud laughter: "As expected of a Saint Sect disciple. This expression is completely natural. If it were someone who didn't know your background, you really might have fooled them!"
Background? What background?
Hearing this, a doubt suddenly arose in Lu Yang's heart: 'Speaking of which, in the eyes of the Dao Lords, what exactly is my origin now?'
His roots were related to [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes].
To Golden Core Perfected Lords, they couldn't calculate anything and could only assume he had severed his karma. But to a Dao Lord, what was he?
There definitely had to be a reasonable explanation. Otherwise, the Dao Lords would have swatted him to death long ago.
It was just that regarding this question, he had always attributed the cause to the omnipotent [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes]—when in doubt, blame the cheat—and had never delved deeper into it.
"This lower-tier cultivator... truly does not know..."
"It is better that you do not know."
The [Tathagata Vairocana of the Vajradhatu] smiled and shook his head: "Sky-shrouding, Nether Whisper, Feixue... and you, Fellow Daoist. Not knowing is a blessing; knowing would only ruin the beauty of it."
What does that mean?
Lu Yang was even more confused, but he didn't dare to think further. He merely etched these words deeply into his heart. Seeing this, the [Tathagata Vairocana of the Vajradhatu] continued softly:
"You can rest assured, Fellow Daoist."
"Since I came to see you at this time, naturally I am not here to harm you... In fact, quite the opposite. I am very interested in your plan to overturn Paramita."
Speaking up to this point, the [Tathagata Vairocana of the Vajradhatu] looked at Lu Yang with a kind face. He even proactively reached out a hand and helped him up from the ground: "Fellow Daoist, you were born too late and do not know my reputation from back then. When I was in the Saint Sect, I was famous for enjoying interactions with lower-tier cultivators."
"I am precisely the good friend of lower-tier cultivators."
"Take [Sky-shrouding], for example. He received my favors back in the day. If I hadn't motivated him, do you think he would have his current achievements?"
Really?
Lu Yang didn't believe a single word of it inwardly. On the surface, however, he immediately squeezed out an expression of worship, admiration, and reverence, making even the World Honored One's eye twitch slightly.
Sigh, the First Ancestor truly corrupted the moral fiber of the sect.
Did he see through it?
Under the gaze of the [Tathagata Vairocana of the Vajradhatu], Lu Yang's expression remained unchanged, his eyes completely tranquil, just locking eyes with him like that.
Yes, Lu Yang had seen through it.
'Although his entrance was terrifying and he revealed some secrets, appearing incredibly composed... in reality... the World Honored One probably came to beg for cooperation this time!'
In an instant, boundless courage was injected into Lu Yang's soul.
'I absolutely cannot be bluffed!'
'If I get bluffed, the cooperation will turn into him freeloading! I must hold it together. As long as I can pry a little something out of the World Honored One's hands, even dying would be worth it!'
(End of Chapter)